Michigan is home to some of the best children’s hospitals in the country: Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. While these hospitals provide the best care, they are all located in the southern half of the state, leaving many Michigan families with long and costly journeys to access treatment. Families travel an average of an hour and a half to access treatment, however travel hours can differ depending on the family’s location.
For families living in more remote areas like northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, traveling to a pediatric specialty hospital can mean hours on the road for every appointment. Cancer treatment often requires multiple visits, even weekly visits, over the course of treatment turning travel for cancer treatment into a significant burden on finances and time. The cost of gasoline adds up quickly, especially as fuel prices continue to rise. Beyond transportation expenses, many families must also pay for overnight lodging and meals away from home when treatment schedules make daily travel impossible.
Families in the Upper Peninsula can face drives of more than four to nine hours each way to reach specialized pediatric care. When treatment extends over weeks and months, these travel demands can become overwhelming. Parents may need to take time off work, arrange care for other children, and manage mounting household expenses while focusing on their child’s health. For every additional mile a family must travel to reach a primary pediatric treatment center, studies show they incur an average of $8.85 in unmet non-medical costs (covering fuel, lodging, and food).
These hidden costs are often overlooked when people think about the challenges of childhood cancer, but they can place enormous strain on families already facing one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. According to surveyed providers across all eight state institutions, 75% of Michigan pediatric oncology clinics routinely manage patients who travel greater than 100 miles to receive care. Not only does long distance travel create a financial burden, it can also directly impact a child’s treatment. Recent oncology data shows that children experiencing high travel distances face a 1.41 times higher hazard of cancer death compared to those living closer to treatment hubs.
The limited number of children’s hospitals across Michigan means that many families must sacrifice significant time, energy, and financial resources simply to access the care that their children need. Families hit by a cancer diagnosis often lose income while caring for their child. 87 percent of families supported by New Day lost income due to their diagnosis. Lost wages can create difficult financial situations that make it harder for families to focus on what matters most, helping their child through treatment.
Trips Force Trade-Offs
New Day Foundation for Families strives to ease the burden that childhood cancer places on families. Behind every trip to treatment are difficult financial decisions that parents should never have to make. A mortgage or rent payment may be delayed to afford lodging near the hospital. Utility bills may go unpaid because gas money is needed for repeated trips to appointments. Grocery budgets often give way to the higher cost of restaurant meals while families are away from home.
While all of these trade-offs may help keep children in treatment, the tremendous financial distress created by mounting debt, foreclosure notices and utility shut-offs must be addressed. A family should not have to suffer the loss of basic needs just to maintain treatment. When nonprofits like New Day step in to help families, it is to cover critical grocery, transportation, utility and household expenses during a time of financial crisis.
Helping Children Enjoy Childhood, Despite Cancer
No family should face childhood cancer alone, and many organizations work together to provide support throughout treatment. Resources such as American Childhood Cancer Organization, Variety – The Children’s Charity, Angels of Hope, CancerCare, DTE Energy’s assistance program, local food banks and other community organizations help families meet both financial and emotional needs. Connecting families with these resources ensures that they receive support during one of the most challenging times in their lives.
In addition to direct financial assistance, New Day helps families access programs that promote connection, recreation, and a sense of normalcy. Families may be referred to camps, martial arts programs, family outings, picnics, sporting events, and other opportunities that allow children to simply be kids despite their diagnosis. By connecting families with both financial and community resources, New Day helps reduce stress, strengthen support systems, and improve quality of life throughout treatment.
Childhood should not revolve around hospital visits, long road trips, or nights spent in hotel rooms away from home. New Day’s mission focuses on ensuring families can focus on caring for their children and creating meaningful moments together.
“It is important to provide children with the opportunities for normalcy and even fun during cancer treatments. They deserve to have a childhood despite facing cancer and these activities can help them deal with the side effects of treatment,” said Program Director Cheryl Warstler.
New Day supports families who are struggling to overcome obstacles to long distance travel for treatment. From gas and grocery support, to auto or insurance coverage, we strive to keep patients in treatment before the burdens create a financial crisis for families.
Michigan is home to some of the best children’s hospitals in the country: Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. While these hospitals provide the best care, they are all located in the southern half of the state, leaving many Michigan families with long and costly journeys to access treatment. Families travel an average of an hour and a half to access treatment, however travel hours can differ depending on the family’s location.
For families living in more remote areas like northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, traveling to a pediatric specialty hospital can mean hours on the road for every appointment. Cancer treatment often requires multiple visits, even weekly visits, over the course of treatment turning travel for cancer treatment into a significant burden on finances and time. The cost of gasoline adds up quickly, especially as fuel prices continue to rise. Beyond transportation expenses, many families must also pay for overnight lodging and meals away from home when treatment schedules make daily travel impossible.
Families in the Upper Peninsula can face drives of more than four to nine hours each way to reach specialized pediatric care. When treatment extends over weeks and months, these travel demands can become overwhelming. Parents may need to take time off work, arrange care for other children, and manage mounting household expenses while focusing on their child’s health. For every additional mile a family must travel to reach a primary pediatric treatment center, studies show they incur an average of $8.85 in unmet non-medical costs (covering fuel, lodging, and food).
These hidden costs are often overlooked when people think about the challenges of childhood cancer, but they can place enormous strain on families already facing one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. According to surveyed providers across all eight state institutions, 75% of Michigan pediatric oncology clinics routinely manage patients who travel greater than 100 miles to receive care. Not only does long distance travel create a financial burden, it can also directly impact a child’s treatment. Recent oncology data shows that children experiencing high travel distances face a 1.41 times higher hazard of cancer death compared to those living closer to treatment hubs.
The limited number of children’s hospitals across Michigan means that many families must sacrifice significant time, energy, and financial resources simply to access the care that their children need. Families hit by a cancer diagnosis often lose income while caring for their child. 87 percent of families supported by New Day lost income due to their diagnosis. Lost wages can create difficult financial situations that make it harder for families to focus on what matters most, helping their child through treatment.
Trips Force Trade-Offs
New Day Foundation for Families strives to ease the burden that childhood cancer places on families. Behind every trip to treatment are difficult financial decisions that parents should never have to make. A mortgage or rent payment may be delayed to afford lodging near the hospital. Utility bills may go unpaid because gas money is needed for repeated trips to appointments. Grocery budgets often give way to the higher cost of restaurant meals while families are away from home.
While all of these trade-offs may help keep children in treatment, the tremendous financial distress created by mounting debt, foreclosure notices and utility shut-offs must be addressed. A family should not have to suffer the loss of basic needs just to maintain treatment. When nonprofits like New Day step in to help families, it is to cover critical grocery, transportation, utility and household expenses during a time of financial crisis.
Helping Children Enjoy Childhood, Despite Cancer
No family should face childhood cancer alone, and many organizations work together to provide support throughout treatment. Resources such as American Childhood Cancer Organization, Variety – The Children’s Charity, Angels of Hope, CancerCare, DTE Energy’s assistance program, local food banks and other community organizations help families meet both financial and emotional needs. Connecting families with these resources ensures that they receive support during one of the most challenging times in their lives.
In addition to direct financial assistance, New Day helps families access programs that promote connection, recreation, and a sense of normalcy. Families may be referred to camps, martial arts programs, family outings, picnics, sporting events, and other opportunities that allow children to simply be kids despite their diagnosis. By connecting families with both financial and community resources, New Day helps reduce stress, strengthen support systems, and improve quality of life throughout treatment.
Childhood should not revolve around hospital visits, long road trips, or nights spent in hotel rooms away from home. New Day’s mission focuses on ensuring families can focus on caring for their children and creating meaningful moments together.
“It is important to provide children with the opportunities for normalcy and even fun during cancer treatments. They deserve to have a childhood despite facing cancer and these activities can help them deal with the side effects of treatment,” said Program Director Cheryl Warstler.
New Day supports families who are struggling to overcome obstacles to long distance travel for treatment. From gas and grocery support, to auto or insurance coverage, we strive to keep patients in treatment before the burdens create a financial crisis for families.